Fire-escape.



A. BROWN.

FIRE ESCAPE. APPLICATION FILED mm 4, 1909.

960,068. Patented May 31, 1910.

T, 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

119 i themes A. BROWN.

FIRE ESCAPE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE4, 1909.

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Patented May 31, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

wihauoeo ALFRED BROWN, OF OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 31, 1910.

Application filed. June 4, 1909. Serial No. 500,066.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED BROWN, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Ottawa, in the Province of Ontario and Dominion of Canada,have invented new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fire escapes, and one of the principal objects of the same is to provide simple and eflicient means for permitting a person to descend to the ground through an'open window by means of a rope or cable connected to the building and a gripping device to permit persons to descend slowly.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fire escape which can be quickly arranged and connected and which can be readily detached and used in other positions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fire escape comprising a sling for sustaining a person and a gripping device provided with handles projecting upon opposite sides to be grasped to steady the person in descending, means being provided for permitting the rope to pass through the 'ripping device as slowly or as rapidly as desired.

These and other objects may be attained by means of the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fire escape made in accordance with my invention shown in position for use. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the fire escape in position ready for use. Fig. 3 is a detail front elevation of one of the members of the gripping device. Fig. 4 is a rear side elevation of the other member of the gripping device. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the rope or cable anchor secured to a portion of a support, the latter being shown in section. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the cable spool holder.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the principal member of a sling designed for the purpose of supporting a person about to descend with the fire escape, said sling having a ring 2 at one end and a snap hook 3 at the oppositeend. The other member 1 of the sling is provided with a series of rings 4 connected thereto by means of a strap or band 5 which permits the rings at to move freely on the member 1 This member of the sling is also provided with a suspending ring 6 at its upper end.

The gripping device for the rope or cable comprises a bar 7 having at its upper end a pair of spaced lugs 8 secured to the bar. Pivoted between the lugs 8 on a pin 9 is the other member 10 of the gripping device, said member comprising a bar similar to the bar 7. Secured to the member 7 is a disk 11 provided with a plurality of inwardly projecting studs 12, said studs being arranged two upon one side of the bar 7 and one upon the opposite side of said disk, as shown more particularly in Fig. 3. This disk is provided with a groove upon its rear surface, and rivets 13 extend through the disk and through the bar 7 to secure it in place. Connected to the member 10 by means of rivets 14 is a disk 11, said disk being provided with a series of openings 15 disposed in alinement with the studs 12 of the member 11. At the lower ends of the members 7 and 10 handle bars 16, 17 are connected, said handle bars having upwardly projecting ends 18 to prevent the hands from slipping from the handle bars. A pivoted supporting element 19 comprises a metal bar bent upon itself and pivoted to a bracket 20 firmly secured to the bar 7, said supporting element comprising parallel members between which the bars 7 and 10 pass, said parallel members being brought to ether and riveted at 21, while the lower en s diverge and form supports for the rings 2 and 6.

Adapted to be secured to the wall near the fire escape is a support for the spool of rope or cable, said support comprising a bar 22 having rings 23 secured near its upper and lower ends. The upper ring is larger than the lower ring, and the spool 24 upon which the rope or cable 25 is wound is placed within the upper ring and rests upon the lower ring. The bar 22 is secured to the wall or other suitable support by means of a screw 26. Mounted on the upper ring is a curtain 27 provided with sliding rings 28 by means of which the curtain may be drawn aside or arranged to cover the spool. The upper end of the rope or cable 25 is secured to an anchor or loop comprising a vertical member 29 having an eye 30 in the lower end thereof to receive a screw 31, while the upper end of the member 29 is bent into an outwardly projecting eye 32, the inner portion 33 of which is bent around the member 29 and terminates in a threaded screw 3A. The rope or cable 25 is secured to the anchor by passing one end of the cable through the eye 32 and tying a knot or placing a stop upon the rope or cable, as shown more particularly in Fig. l.

The operation of my invention may be briefly described as follows: The anchoring device may be secured to a window frame a on the inside of the room, the cable being led from the anchoring device around the studs 12, as shown in Fig. 3. The person using the fire escape adjusts the sling 1, se cures the snap hook 3 to one of the rings 4, as shown in Fig. l, and sits upon the sling member 1 with his hands" grasping the handle bars 16, 17. Upon lowering himself out of the window, the operator presses the members 16 and 17 together with more or less force, depending upon the speed at which he desires to reach the ground. By pressing the member 17 against the member 7 the disk 11 is pressed against the rope or cable as it passes around the studs 12.

My invention is simple in construction, is readily portable from one place to another, can be quickly connected in position for use and is safe, reliable and eflicient.

I claim 1. A fire escape comprising a sling, a rope or cable, a gripping device consisting of bars pivoted together and provided with handles, said bars having secured thereto opposing disks, one of said disks having a series of studs and the other disk being provided with openings through which said studs project, a supporting element pivoted to one of said bars, said supporting element comprising parallel members between which said bars extend, and means for connecting the sling to the supporting element.

2. A fire escape comprising a rope or cable, an anchor for said rope or cable, a gripping device through which said rope or cable extends, said gripping device comprising pivoted bars, carrying disks, one of said disks'being provided with studs and the other with openings through which said studs project, oppositely disposed handles, and a supporting element having a sling connected thereto for supporting the operator, said supporting element comprising parallel members forming a loop through which said pivoted bars extend, said element being pivoted to one of said bars.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALFRED BROXVN.

lVitnesses A. H. BURKE, WV. BRADLEY. 

